Apparatus for the production of gas



March 26, 1940. c. w. ANDREWS APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GAS 2 sheets- -sheet 1 Filed June 18, 1937 March 26, 1940. c. w. ANDREWS APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GAS Filed June 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 srarss Parana APPARATUS i on The motivation or ens Charles W. Andrews, Qhicago, 111., assignor to H. A. Brassert & Company, Chicago, ill, a corporation of Illinois Application June 1s,

I 7 Elaims.

This invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for the production of gas and more particularly to a mechanically operated producer or water gas generator.

This invention is in the nature of a modification or improvement of the apparatus disclosed in Patent No. 1,709,335 issued April 16, 1929, jointly to me and William B. Chapman.

This form of apparatus comprises a grate above a windbox with a rotating beam moving directly above the grate. The beam in the prior patent extends across the grate and, when rtated, not only agitates the firebed but also urges a portion of the ash through the grate while urging the major portion of the-ash outwardly er the edge of the grate. The ash falling over he edge of the grate is gradually removed by mechanical means during the operation.

It has been found in operation of, the former 20 form of apparatus that-the smaller proportion of ashes passing through the grate into the windbox are quite thoroughly burned and do not ordinarily contain more than ten percent of combustible matter. On the other hand, the material discharged over the peripheral edge of the grate has been found to average in some cases as high as forty percent carbon.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas making apparatus which gasifies the fuel with a minimum loss of combustible material.

It is a further object to provide a construction in which the major portion of the ash is passed through the grate.

It is also an object to provide an apparatus with an agitating beam which is largely instroking in efiect so as.to minimize the discharge of ash over the edge of the grate.

It is an additional object to provide a construction in which the ash is retained upon the- 193i, Serial No. 143,905

Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary sections taken on lines 3-3 and 6-5 of Figure 2.

In the drawings, the fuel chamber H is defined by the walls l2, and its bottom is largely closed by the circular grate M. This grate l3, 5 as shown in Figure 2, is made up of a plurality of sections which are provided with openings permitting the passage of material downwardly through the grate when that material has been reduced to a predetermined size. The bottom of 10 the gas making apparatus is closed by the conical hopper it, with a removable lower closure l5- through which ashes may be withdrawn. The air admission passage l6 enters into the side of the hopper it, its upperend being protected by 5 the deflecting means ll so that ashes do not fall down into the passage. A perforated pipe i8 is provided for wetting the ashes, as desired.

. The water connection 69 extends downwardly through the central opening in the grate and 90 is connected to the agitating beam 2|. This beam, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, is hollow and is water cooled by water introduced through pipes 22 and withdrawn through pipe 23. The

outer-ends of the beam 2! are connected at 24 25 and 25 to a rotating platform 26 which serves to receive material passing outwardly over the periphery of the grate E3. The platform 26 has connected thereto the gear ring 31 which is driven by pinion 28 carried on shaft 29. This shaft 29 is driven by'means of gear 36) through the worm gear 3| on shaft 32 which is rotated by' any suitable source of power. The adjustable scraper 33 is provided as shown in Figure 2, this scraper intercepting material on the platform 16 as that platform rotates, and forcing the material outwardly into the discharge passage 3 As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the upper face of the rotating beam 2| inclines upwardly away from the leading edge portions 35 and 36. The rear walls 31 and 38 of the beam are substantially vertical. As clearly'shown in Figure 2, the major portion of the leading edge of each half of the beam is concave, while the outer portions 39 and 4B of the leading edges adjacent the periphery of the grate are convex and sloped rearwardly relative to the direction of rotation of the beam.

In the operation of the generator it will be understood that a bed of fuel will be placed in 50 the chamber II and ignited in the usual manner.

It will be understood that the apparatus may be used for the production of, producer gas by introducing steamand air continuously through the passage l6 or to produce water gas by inu troducing steam and air alternately. The apparatus may be used to carry on any usual or customary cycle of operations in the making of gas by known methods using up or down runs or combinations thereof. during the process jointly with the platform 26. This beam serves to force material ahead of it and to urge the smaller material through the openings in the grate. The mass of material is gradually lifted over the inclined faces of the beam and then dropped suddenly past the vertical rear edge of the beam, which aids in breaking up the clinkers which'may form and reducing the material to the desired size. The concave leading edges 35 and 38 tend to maintain the material on the grate rather than to urge it off of the edge of the grate onto the platform 28.

Should the apparatus tend to clog by the packing of material in front of the beam, which material is carried around with the beam. this material will advance in front of the concave section and tend to fill up the concavity. This material will then serve in general the same effect as the front edge of the beam and by filling up the concavity will temporarily cause an outstroking action to relieve the packing or clogging. The outer portions 39 and d0 of the leading edge are outstroking so as to assist in the discharge onto the platform 26 of material which reaches the periphery of the grate. It will be apparent that the instroking beam will tend to grind any clinker which forms to ashes and to maintain material centrally of the chamber and over'the grate until the combustible material has been largely burned to ash.

It will be understood, also, that the speed of rotation of the beam may be varied to suit the working conditions and operating cycle, and also the character of the fuel being used. The outstroking outer end portions of the beam will aid in forcing any large pieces of clinker which may form, against the side walls and thus break them up and force the broken pieces out of the chamber. The beam formed as shown will be instroking over the working zone of the grate and outstroking over the center of the grate and at the ends. For proper operation the combustion zone is maintained above the rotating beam and the clinker is solid and brittle when it reaches the beam agitation zone so that it is readily broken up by the beam action.

lhis new form of beam and method of operation results in considerably reducing the combustibles lost over the periphery of the grate by the use of former types of apparatus and methods.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention it is capable of change and modification to meet varying conditions and requirements and Icontemplate such changes as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a gas making apparatus, a fuel chamber, a grate at the bottom of the chamber, means adjacent the periphery of the grate for receiving ash discharged therefrom, an agitating beam located above and adjacent the grate, means for The beam 20 is rotated rotating said beam, the leading edge of said beam beinggenerally concave in plan view.

2. In a gas making apparatus, a. fuel chamber,'

a grate at the bottom of the chamber, means adjacent the periphery of the grate for receiving ash discharged therefrom, an agitating beam located above and adjacent the grate, means for rotating said beam, the leading edge of said beam being generally concave in plan view and the upper surface of the beam inclining upwardly away from the leading edge of the beam.

3. In a gas making'apparatus, a fuel chamber, a grate at the bottom of the chamber, means adjacent the peripheryof the grate for receiving ash discharged therefrom, an agitating beam located above and adjacent the grate, means for rotating said beam, the leading edge of said beam being generally concave in plan view, the upper surface of the beam inclining upwardly away from the leading edge of the beam, and the rear edge of'the beam being substantially vertical.

4. In a gas making apparatus, a fuel chamber, a grate at the bottom of the chamber, means adjacent the periphery of the grate for receiving ash discharged therefrom, an agitating beam 10- cated above and adjacent the grate, means for rotating said beam, the leading edge of the major portion of the beam being concave in plan view and tending to maintain material on the grate while agitating said material, the end portions of the beam being convex and outstroking to dis- 5. In a gas making apparatus, a fuel chamber,

a circular grate at the bottom of the chamber, agitation and dischargemeans associated with the grate comprising a beam extending across the grate and a discharge platform around the periphery of the grate, means for rotating the beam and platform and means for removing material from the platform, the leading edge of the major portion of the beam being concave in plan view and tending to maintain material on the grate while agitating said material.

6. In a gas making apparatus, a fuel chamber, a circular grate at the bottom of the chamber, agitation and discharge means associated with ,the grate comprising a beam extending across to clinker immediately above the base of the generator and maintaining the clinker and ashes over the grate openings while, by a combined rotary instroking and vertical agitation action,-the

clinker is largely reduced to a size which will I pass through grate openings.

" CHARLES W. ANDREWS. 

